Oh, the trials and tribulations of deadlines. I'm sorry if anyof you went through "Billie withdrawal" last week. It's a hardthing to suffer through, I'm told.
I think the world has more procrastinators than (for lack of abetter antonym) rushers. But, that just may be the collegepopulation. I've had several professors say, "This assignment isdue Tuesday, but don't wait until Monday to start it." Yup, that'sme.
However, it isn't as though I don't think about what needs done.For instance, if a report on how many rocks can be skipped on alake at one time is due next week, I spend the whole week planningthe paper in my head. I just don't put it on paper until the lastminute.
Is this a hindrance? Why, certainly. It seems that no matter howwell things are planned, something gets in the way... at the lastminute. The computer crashes, the printer runs out of paper andthere is no paper to refill the tray, the door to the closestcomputer lab is locked and you have to waste time getting to thenext one, and many others. It's that darn Murphy's Law showing itsugly face.
However, there are times when waiting until the last minute canreally help a situation. For every dozen times something badhappens from procrastination, there's one time (two if we're lucky)it pays off.
"I'm sorry, sir, I didn't start that lollipop licking contestyet. When I went to the store to get them, they only had snotflavor so I had to go to a different store for strawberry."Fortunately, the boss just received news that the sticks in thelollipops are made from bleached asbestos and the contest wouldhave been fatal. Yes, this extremely unrealistic, but I don't havea real example off the top of my head. You get the point.
Also, some people work better under the last minute pressure.Similar to the fish that live 8,000 feet under the ocean can't livewithout the pressure on their bodies. These are the people thatmake good EMT's and paramedics or ER doctors and nurses. Obviouslythey don't think about what to do for a week before they performemergency tracheotomy, but it's the whole pressure thing that makesthem work well.
Animals procrastinate as well. My dog procrastinates when I tellher to go to her room because she knows that means I have to leave.My cat procrastinates...well...about whatever she wants topostpone, I guess. That really has me thinking now. Maybe I'll askher about it when I get home. She'll probably wait to answerme.
Well, you can't procrastinate any more. It's time to read therest of the Daily News. Or, you can start working on your paperthat's due in an hour. If you want one more reason to wait, send mean e-mail.
Write to Billie at
billiecol02@yahoo.com
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